Page 9 of Honey Bun
I asked, “Where are we going?”
He put the car in drive. “Do we need a destination?”
Being daring wasn’t something I normally did well. But with Arman, I wasn’t living in fear. I sat back. “No. I trust you.”
He reached out and took my hand. “I’ll honor that.” He let go.
My entire body was on fire and wanting to recreate our first kiss in that instant, but I’d blinked, and he’d let me go.It was all in my head.My heart swelled.
He said, “So, I’m thinking the beach.”
Heat rose to my face. A walk near the ocean was something everyone in this town did, and there was no way he would want me. I adjusted my white cotton shirt. “I’ve been meaning to take my daughter.”
He parked on his own property, an area tourists and locals tended to avoid. I saw three yachts parked in the distance, which must have belonged to someone in his family. As I stepped out, the salty air went to my lungs. I’d missed sand and beach water. I walked to the edge and saw the blue water.
Arman joined me. “Let’s head to the private cove so we can be alone.”
Our first kiss. My lips burned like it had just happened. We’d gone there so my parents wouldn’t find me, and I’d been tempted to know him intimately.
The years hadn’t been kind to me. I hoped that wouldn’t get in the way of our practical future. I lifted my shoulder. “I’m being invited to your private beach?”
He pressed his hand on my back as we walked onto the beach. “You always had a pass.”
That sounded nice. I needed to keep my head straight, though. I took my sneakers off and let my toes curl into the sand. He left his light sweater and T-shirt on a rock. Those muscles of his were defined. My nipples under my well-padded bra hardened at the sight. He was even sexier now, but he’d always starred in my what-if dreams.
I glanced away and pretended this wasn’t heaven. “So, are all your brothers visiting this summer?”
Drat, I already asked that.He’d told me the night before. I jerked and half expected Bob to tell me I was an idiot.
However, Arman didn’t even blink. “No, just the weekend, to celebrate Mom’s birthday and Joel’s new marriage surprise. Now, Mâmân has ammo to convince the rest of us to get married and give her grandchildren.”
Once again, he was different and not like my father or Bob. As we stepped inside the fairy-tale cove of my dreams, I only said, “At least it’s not your dad. It’s harder to say no that way. He was the one who ordered me to break up with you that summer.”
“He wasn’t my biggest fan.”
Being understated but classy was another of Arman’s great qualities. The slight waterfall on the hard rock continued like no time had passed, and the waves of the beach lulled me into memories. We headed out of the sea cave to the private beach surrounded by the rocks. The cave let in natural light from the open ceiling. When I needed to calm down, this was a place I still visited in my mind.
The smell of the salty air hit me again as he asked, “Is that why you married years ago?”
The question played out in my mind like the wrong chord on a guitar. I hugged my waist. “Doesn’t matter.” I’d tried to love Bob once I said yes, and being open had shattered me.
Arman walked onto the beach, wearing his gray cotton pants that had to cost more than everything I owned. I put my phone on a rock, edged closer to the water, and called out, “What matters is that you’re not wearing a bathing suit.”
He came back and picked me up like I was still a girl. “I’ll just buy more shorts and you an outfit before I take you home.”
The water lapped closer to me. I crawled onto Arman to stay dry, but then he let me go. Water rushed around me, and as I emerged, wet, I shook my hair. “I can’t believe you just dropped me in.”
He laughed. “The water’s warm, and you’re a good swimmer.”
Once upon a time, I’d been a good swimmer. This was my first return to the blue waters, and somehow, the moment was freeing. With Arman, maybe I could be carefree again.
Chapter Four
Madeleine
The moment I stood up and the ocean water rushed down my body, I relaxed. It had been forever since I’d felt carefree, and Arman had given this to me. I didn’t even know when I’d laughed last.
When I met Arman’s gaze, I didn’t feel tired or upset. He emerged, water dripping off his muscular body. He stirred senses in me I hadn’t remembered I had.
